Crug Farm Plants are well known for their large selection of unusual plants, and despite having been buying plants from Crug for many years we had not managed to visit until recently. Our lack of visiting had long passed being embarrassing, as Sue and Bleddyn usually reminded us each time we saw them at a show or exhibition. However finally, we made the trip to North Wales.
We had opted to stay for a few days in the area, having a break at the coast, and of course enjoying visits to some of the world famous castles that Wales is renowned for.
But more about castles and coastline later, our first (and also last) stop on our trip was to Crug, we had selected a number of plants, and as we were staying in a hotel, left the plants until our final afternoon, when we went back to collect - and saw more of the growing areas, picking out a handful more plants of course.
We started our visit with a tour round the gardens, packed full of fabulous plants, many collected by Sue and Bleddyn, and showing that if thy can thrive in North Wales, then they should be hardy and thrive elsewhere.
Rubus sp.
Veratrum sp.
One of the very many Schefflera in the garden
Mark listening intently to Bleddyn
Rodgersia sp.
A very tall and slender Schefflera
Podophyllum pleianthum
schefflera macrophylla
Schefflera chapana
Schefflera taiwania
Exbucklandia populnea growing up against the house.
Sinopanax formosanus
After the garden tour, we headed in to the various polytunnels and it was time to start shopping. Packed full of even more amazing plants, we had to control ourselves as we were somewhat like kids in a sweet shop. At several points we spotted a gem, only to learn that it was a propagation plant ns sadly not yet available - even more reasons to visit again.
Schefflera bodinieri
Picking out aspidistra
oreopanax sp.
Piper heydei
Finally, and this was on the second visit a tour round the growing fields - I didn't take as many photos as would normally do, getting caught up in the plant discussions as well as hearing the stories first hand about how and where particular plants came from, or the trial and tribulations of trying to prop a particularly fickle plant.
Sorbus hedlundii
Iris chrysograohes
And then there is that view, across to Mount Snowdon.
We managed quite a car full, although perhaps there was space for a few more.
Lots of reason to go back again, now we have the bug.
Gaz